Blucher type shoe with removable plug



y 1948' V w. H. EPSTEIN 2,444,64fi

BLUCHER TYPE SHOE WITH REMOVABLE PLUG Filed Oct. 19, 1946 k 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS July 6, 1948. w. H. EPSTEIN 2,444,64Q

BLUCHER TYPE SHQE WITH REMOVABLE PLUG I I Filed Oct. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENToge. paiem Q 1N Wdiwm H.E

ATTORNEYS Patented July 6 1948 BLUCHER TYPE SHOE WITH REMOVABLE PLUG William H. Epstein, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1946, Serial No. 704,387

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to moccasin-type shoes having side flaps, bluchers, or ties, or any other type of side flaps that may resemble a blucher, and it is a general object of my invention to provide a shoe of the type indicated wherein the upper portion can be removably secured to the bottom portion by means of a slide fastener of the completely separable type, whereby replacement of the upper portion may be effected as it becomes damaged or worn through use and whereby a novelty of color combinations may be introduced to conform tothe varying tastes of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shoe wherein the upper portion is removably secured to the bottom portion by a slide fastener of the completely separable type and wherein the slide of the fastener may be unobtrusively concealed within the interior of the shoe.

For the attainment of the above objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated several embodiments of the invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the features of the invention with the upper portion detached and showing one form of pocket for the reception of the end of the slide fastener tape and slider;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 which illustrates the construction of the pocket and its disposition with respect to the blucher;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of the shoe and illustrates an alternate location of a pair of blucher pockets on the inside of the bluchers;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of detachable upper with slide fastener tape and slider mounted thereon for attachment to the bottom portion;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cover strip which may be attached to the underside of the upper shown in Fig. 4 to cover the slide fastener tape and prevent any possible irritation of the foot;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 4 with the strip stitched to the upper and showing the relative disposition of the upper, the slide fastener tape and the cover strip;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a slightly different shoe embodying the features of the invention, and with the upper in position;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the shoe shown in Fig. 7 with parts broken away to show the internal structure and relation of parts and showing one of the pair of blucher pockets;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line |6l0 of Fig. '7

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line I l' of Fig. 7.

Referring now to Figs. 1-6, the shoe comprises an outer sol-e 36, a heel 3|, a counter 32, side flaps or bluchers 33, an inner lining 46, and an inner sole II.

A bottom portion 34 is mounted on the outer sole and securely fixed thereto by stitching, nailing, pegging or in any other suitable manner. Bottom portion 34 extends around the front of the outer sole 3!! and rearwardly along either side thereof to a point beyond the forward edges of bluchers'33. A slide fastener tape 35 is secured to the inside of the bottom portion 34 and extends completely around the marginal portion thereof. A plug 36 is shaped to conform to the marginal edge of bottom portion 34 and is provided with its cooperating slide fastener tape 31 secured around the inside of its terminal edge and carrying the slider 38. The slide fastener unit comprising fastener tape 35 attached to bottom portion 34, fastener tape 31 attached to plug 36 and slider 38 may be of any conventional, completely separable type, such as the needle tip type. Plug 36 is preferably shaped rearwardly to form an integral-tongue portion 39 adapted to extend between the bluchers 33. Slide fastener tape 31, as an alternate, can be attached to the top of plug 36.

A cover strip 40 may be attached to the underside of plug 36. This strip 40 should be of sumcientwidth to underlie both the teeth of fastener tape 31 of plug 36 and the teeth of fastener tape 35 attached to bottom portion 34, in order to prevent any possible contact between the fastener teeth and the feet of the wearer and eliminate any possible irritation or chafing. In addition, the cover strip 46 serves to give support and shape to plug 36. After having been out to proper shapacover strip 40 may be conveniently attached to the underside of plug 36 by rows of stitching extending around the marginal edge of the plug at a slight distance from the teeth of fastener tape 31.

If desired, a supporting toe strip 4| may be provided extending transversely of the outer sole 30 and firmly secured at its opposite ends to the inside marginal edge of bottom portion 34.

In order to prevent any discomfort to the wearer caused by the ends of the fastener tapes 35 and 31 and slider 38, bluchers 33 are provided with pockets 42 located either exteriorly or interiorly of the blucher, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 respectively. The pockets 42 may be formed convenientlyusing a double walled blucher or any similar suitable construction. The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.

1-3 shows pockets 42 provided with flaps 43 opening upwardly. Flaps 43 are provided at their free ends with apair of eyelets 44 suitablydisposed for registration with a pair of eyelets 44 on the lace stay of bluchers 33 when said flaps are closed. As has been previously pointed out, the

pockets 42 may be disposed either on the inside or the outside of bluchers 33, but in either-case, the pocket must be of sufiicient depth and width' to retain the ends of fastener tapes 35 and. 31 and slider 38. To provide suflicient depth for 23. These pockets 22 serve the function of re-- taining the ends of the fastener tapes i6 and 18 .secured .to bottom portion. and plug l1, respectively, to :prevent any possible irritation of the foot. In addition, the pockets 22 may be 7 made of sufficient depth to retain the slider I9 pockets 42 an additional layer of material fii'iimay' be incorporated in the design of the shoe on the.

outside of the shoe, asindicated in Fig. 1 when said pockets are located exteriorly of bluchers 33. When pockets 3 42 are located interiorly of bluchers 33, as shown in Fig. 3; an additional layer of material may be employed between inner lining 46 and the inner wall of blucher 33.

In use,-a desired plug 35is selected and placed in con formed alignment with bottomportion 34, fastener tapes 35 and 3! being also properly aligned. The slider 38 is then pulled completel; around the shoe from the inner side to the outer side tounite-plug 36 with bottom-portion 34. Flap 43'j is lifted for the reception of slider 38 and :the terminal ends of fastener tapes 35 and 31 The shoe is then laced with eyelets 44 of naps, t3flinregistration with the corresponding eyelets 44 on bluchers 33. This operation securely retainsthe ends of fastener tapes 35 and er-and slider 38 within the pockets 42 and simultaneously prevents lipping or wrinkling of flaps 43;;

Referringnow to Figs. 7-11, the shoe comprises an outersole ill, an inner sole II, a heel 2, a counter l3, side-flaps or bluchers [4 which may be of conventional type.

"A bottom portion ismounted on the outer sole lflgandsecurely fixed by stitching or in any other suitable manner between the inner sole II and the outer sole It; Bottom portion l5 extends aroundthe front of outer sole l0 and rearwardly'alongeither side thereof to .a point beyond the forward edges of bluchers I 4. 'Aslide fast-enertape I6 is attached to the inside of the bottom portion 1'5 and extends completely around the marginal edge thereof.

The plug 11 is shaped to conform to the marginaledge' of' bottom portion l5 and accordingly 'is provided'with-its cooperating slide fastener tape "-1 8---firnily secured around the inside of its terminal edge and carryin the slider l9. It is apparent that the slide fastener unit comprising fastenertape lfi'attached to bottom portion l5, fastener tape I8 -attached to plug I1 and slider I91 may be of any conventional, completely separable type, such as the needle-tip type. The needle' tip or similar structure (not shown) is preferably located at the inner side of the shoe at the extremity'of fastener tape. l6 attached to bottom portion l5. Plug I! is preferably shaped rearwardly to form a tongue extending between-the bluchers l4.

Ifdeslred; a supporting toe strap 2| may be provided extending transversely of the outer sole ill--and securely fixed at its opposite ends to the inside 'rnarginaledges of bottom portion 15. Toe strap 2l has the combinedadvantage of lending rigidity tothe shoe and protecting the inner surface of plug 1 I from perspiration.

The inner lining of theshoe which may be of leather, fabric'or any othersuitable material is preferably shaped todefine'pockets-H, on-the inner side of b1llCh6IS-M-,-ha.Ving depending flaps after plug I? has been united with bottom porunwraps clearly shown in Fig. 2. 'ln aotual use, the desired plug I1 is selected and placed; in position in conformation with bottom portion l5 and with fastener tapes IE and I 82inproper. .alignment. The slider I3 is then pulled ompletely around the shoe from the innr's'ideto the outer side thereby uniting plug H with bottom portion I 5. Flap 23 is then lifted for the reception within the pockets 22 of slider l9 and the terminal ends offastener tapes l6 and iii-to complete the operation. In order to detach plug I! the operation is reversed,

Itis contemplated to produce plugs I! or 36 in graduated sizes and to have sets ofa given size in various colors in order to introduce a variety of'col'or combinations in response to the varying tastes ofthe wearer.

Further, it would be quite practicable to have a pairofplugs with different colors on top'and bottom surfaces and thereby toeifect a new color combination by interchanging and reversin the positions of a pair-of plugs on a given pair of shoes.-

The invention. is not limited to shoes or parts thereof-made-of leather but it is also-applicable to fabric shoes,-'and sh'oes made of other materials, such as plastic, etc.

Since certainmodifications may be madein the shoes embodying my invention without departing from: the scopethereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted merelyas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention and illustrated its use, I claim:

1. In a moccasin-type shoe having a quarter provided with lacing flaps or bluchers, a sole portion, a vamp portion secured around. said soleportion, a slide fastener tape secured to and co-extensive with the marginaledge of said Vamp portion, a removable plug adapted to conform to the marginal edge of =saidvampportion and carrying-"a slide-fastener tape-about its marginal edge, a slide fastener co-operatively engaging said tapes-for-detachably securing said plug-to said- -vampportion, each of said bluchers having a -pooket with a flap opening upwardly for the reception of said slide fastener and the ends of said-slide fastener tapes, each of said flaps havin'g'a pair-of eyelets disposedat-thefree end thereof for registration with a corresponding pair of eyeletsonthe lace stays of said bluchers, whereby said slide fastener and the ends of' said sl-ide fastenler-tapes will-be securely retained within-said pockets.

' 2. In .a mocca s in'-typet shoe. having a quarter provided with lacing flaps or bluchers, a sole portion, a vamp portion secured around said sole porti'o'nand extending rearwardly to a point beyond the forward edge of said 'bluchersa slide fastener tape secured to and co-extensive with the-marginal edge of said vamp portion, a removable plug adapted to-conformfto the; mar-- ginal edge oi -said vamp portion and "carrying a slide fastener tapeaboutits marginal edge, a slide fastenercooperatively engaging said tapes for detachably securing saidplug "to said vamp portion, said plug having a strip secured thereto about the marginal edge thereof, said strip being of suflicient width to cover said slide fastener tapes with said upper in attached position, each of said bluchers having a pocket with a flap opening upwardly for the reception of said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes, each of said flaps having a pair of eyelets disposed at the free end thereof for registration with a corresponding pair of eyelets on the lace stays of said bluchers, whereby said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes will be securely retained within said pockets.

3. In the moccasin-type shoe having a quarter provided with lacing flaps or bluchers, a sole portion, a vamp portion secured around said sole portion, a slide fastener tape secured to and coextensive with the marginal edge of said vamp portion, a removable plug adapted to conform to the marginal edge of said vam portion and carrying a slide fastener tape about its marginal edge, a slide fastener co-operatively engaging said tapes for detachably securing said plug to said vamp portion, said plug having a strip secured thereto about the marginal edge thereof, said strip being of sufficient width to cover said slide fastener tapes with said upper in attached position, each of said bluchers having a pocket with a flap opening upwardly for the reception of said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes, each of said flaps having a pair of eyelets disposed at the free end thereof for registration with a corresponding pair of eyelets on the lace stays of said bluchers, whereby said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes will be securely retained Within said pockets.

4. In a moccasin-type shoe having a quarter provided with lacing flaps or bluchers, a sole portion, a vamp portion secured around said sole portion and extending rearwardly to a point beyond the forward edge of said bluchers, a slide fastener tape secured to and co-extensive with the marginal edge of said vamp portion, a removable plug adapted to conform to the marginal edge of said vamp portion and carrying a slide fastener tape about its marginal edge, a slide fastener cooperatively engaging said plug to said vamp: portion, each of said bluchers having a pocket with a flap opening upwardly for the reception of said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes, each of said flaps having a pair of eyelets disposed at the free end thereof for registration with a corresponding pair of eyelets on the lace stays of said bluchers, whereby said slide fastener and the ends of said slide fastener tapes will be securely retained within said pockets.

WILLIAM H. EPSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,267 King May 5, 1905 871,187 Saunders Nov. 19, 1907 1,955,487 Cleofe Apr. 17, 1934 2,230,291 Evans Feb. 4, 1941 2,302,596 Bigio Nov. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 486,581 France Jan. 25, 1918 

